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Benton, IL


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Benton, Illinois

Introduction to Benton, Illinois

Benton, Illinois, in Franklin county, is 74 miles W of Evansville, Indiana (center to center) and 85 miles SE of St. Louis, Missouri. There are 6,880 residents in the city.

Benton History

The city of Benton is the county seat of Franklin County, which was founded on January 2, 1818 and was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. The county was also platted in 1818. Benton, which was named after Thomas Hart Benton, a senator from Missouri, was incorporated in 1902. The city grew and developed due to the fertile soil that facilitated agriculture. Because of multiple railroads in Benton, industry also grew and flourished.

Benton and Nearby Attractions

  • Beall Woods State Park
  • New Harmony State Historic Site
  • Gen. John A. Logan Museum
  • Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
  • Rend Lake

Things To Do In Benton

People may visit parks like Lake Murphysboro State Park, Ferne Clyffe State Park, Stephen A. Forbes State Park, and Fort Massac State Park. There are several museums nearby including Cape River Heritage Museum, Heritage House Museum, and William Jennings Bryan Museum. Places of historical significance, such as the New Harmony State Historic Site and the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, may also be visited. Local churches include First Free Will Baptist Church, North Benton Missionary Baptist Church, and Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

Benton Transportation

Williamson County Regional Airport is nearby.

Benton Higher Education

Colleges nearby include Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, John A Logan College, and Southeast Missouri State University.

High Points

Benton strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

CategoryTrophy
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 10%Benton Affordability of Rents
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 18%Benton Short Commute Times

Comparative Profile of Benton, IL

Comparing Benton to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens1010
Age of the Population1010
Female Share of the Population99
Well-Paid Single Men22
Male Share of the Population22
Children Under 5 Years Old22
Racial Diversity13

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married42
Average Household Size21

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People in Middle Class or Better32
College Educated Adults35
People Above Poverty31
Median Family Income22

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times79
Working at Home77
Walking and Biking to Work12
Public Transportation Use12

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Rents108
People Living Alone99
Seasonal and Vacation Housing810
Affordability of Property Taxes78
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals47
Housing Recently Built34

Detailed pages on related topics: Benton travel.

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Additional Details

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Benton hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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